Manhattan district attorney announces he won't prosecute certain crime

[discocrisco01]

Source: CNN

(CNN)Just days after taking office, Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg released a memo detailing new charging, bail, plea and sentencing policies that he said he believes will make the city safer and the criminal justice system more fair, yet the plan faces criticism from police union leaders.
Among the crimes Bragg said his office would not prosecute: marijuana misdemeanors, including selling more than three ounces; not paying public transportation fare; trespassing except a fourth degree stalking charge, resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration in certain cases, and prostitution.
Misdemeanor offenses that are legally required to be given a "desk appearance ticket" will be offered diversion or community-based programs intended to help an offender, the memo said. The office may also decline to prosecute the offense.

Bragg wants to "reserve pretrial detention for very serious cases," according to the memo, and he intends to limit underage defendants in adult courts. Bragg also outlined a policy to request partially or unsecured bond in the same amount as cash bail requests.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/06/us/alvin-bragg-manhattan-district-attorney-crimes-prosecution/index.html

[Scrivener7]

1. All good choices except the fare jumping. That's going to create a problem.

[cstanleytech]

10. Never been to NYC but I am curious to how the city deals with

people that literally cannot afford the fare costs?

[Midnight Writer]

13. It seems it would be cheaper and more effective to build better barriers.

[gab13by13]

2. Stop scaring me,

I thought this was about Trump.

[OneBro]

4. Ha! That was my first thought, too.

[ShazzieB]

9. Me, too!

When I saw this, I was all "OMG WTAF! Then I read this and was like "Oh, okay."

I did not need that adrenaline search this early in the day!

[OneBro]

3. Ah, those pesky details.

Misdemeanor offenses that are legally required to be given a "desk appearance ticket" will be offered diversion or community-based programs intended to help an offender, the memo said. The office may also decline to prosecute the offense.
Bragg wants to "reserve pretrial detention for very serious cases," according to the memo, and he intends to limit underage defendants in adult courts. Bragg also outlined a policy to request partially or unsecured bond in the same amount as cash bail requests.

The DA is trying to bringing intelligence and compassion into a discussion where police are bringing their predictable warnings of rampant crime.

Prostitution should be regulated, not criminalized. Surely intelligent adults can distinguish a "managed" brothel (a' la Nevada) and a violent pimp (a' la Iceberg Slim).

Marijuana should have the same legal status as alcohol.

Now that you have my 2 cents worth of opinion . . .

[Farmer-Rick]

14. Looks like good ideas all around on the surface

But even legal, well regulated sex workers frequently face abuse. It's not something you can set up and expect safe, healthy and caring conditions without strong policing. Hell, even factory workers face abuse from employers let alone sex workers.

[OneBro]

15. Very true.

The worst of humans will always find a way to abuse other humans, especially when puritans make it easier by vilifying sex workers.

[Diamond_Dog]

5. The New York Post paints a much more frightening scenario.

I know — it’s the Post — This was sent to me by my sister yesterday. Read especially the four red bullet points.

https://nypost.com/2022/01/04/manhattan-da-alvin-bragg-to-stop-seeking-prison-in-some-cases/?utm_source=email_sitebuttons&utm_medium=site%20buttons&utm_campaign=site%20buttons

[JohnSJ]

6. Resisting arrest?

[getagrip_already]

7. there are multiple levels of that charge....

The lowest is just not cooperating. Police use that as icing on the charging cake, or when other charges likely won't stick.

It goes up to what amounts to attempted murder of the officers.

My guess is they are referring to the lower charges and not the higher ones. Of course, media.

[left-of-center2012]

8. Additional comments at this thread :

Tue Jan 4, 2022, 08:47 PM
“New Manhattan DA won't pursue resisting arrest, other non-violent, non-felony charges, angering cops”

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216213100

[Cicada]

11. Moving resources to violent crime is logical

[Karma13612]

12. This all sounds like good news to me.

I am not surprised in the least that the Police Union is not happy.

[MichMan]

16. Not going to prosecute theft of services either I believe

Dine & dash and running out on Taxi and Uber fares may become more of a problem. That is going to suck for restaurant staff and drivers.